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Thursday, December 14, 2017

Michael Jackson would have turned 60 in 2018. I love his music. His song are full of emotion. They make you fall in love. They make you want to dance. They make you think. Michael (low key) added political and race relation issues in his song. He embodied what the word superstar really means. So I present to you the Michael Jackson Reading Challenge. Books have to be at least 100 pgs. If you are interest and seeing how I am doing with the challenge my progress will be updated below.

Start Jan 1st 2018 to Dec 31st 2018
Link back to the page on your sign up post

Off The Wall
1. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Read a book in one day/within 24 hours
2. Rock with You - Read a romance or a book with rock in the title or author name
3. Working Day and Night - Read a book where the main character(s) have multiple jobs or goes to school and has a job
4. Get on the Floor - Read a book with a musician in its list of characters
5. Off the Wall - Read a book with a shy character
6. Girlfriend (McCartney) - Read a female lead romance or a book about a BFF
7. She's out of My Life - Read a book where the characters break up (they can get back together)
8. I Can't Help It - Read a book about addiction or obsession
9. It's the Falling in Love - Read a romance that results in marriage
10. Burn This Disco Out - Read a book with a musician in it's list of characters

Thriller
1. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Read a book that centers around conflict (boxing, MMA, backstabbing friend)
2. Baby Be Mine - Read a book where a characters are engaged or getting married
3. The Girl Is Mine - Read a book where the male lead tries to get the girl
4. Thriller - Read a horror or psychological thriller
5. Beat It - Read a book centered around a fighting/martial art sport
6. Billie Jean - Read a book where a pregnancy or baby has brought the couple together
7. Human Nature - Freebie
8. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Read a y.a. book
9 The Lady In My Life - Read a romance novel

Bad
1. Bad - Read a book that got 2 stars or less
2. The Way You Make Me Feel - Read a steamy romance or erotica
3. Speed Demon - Read a book that you read in one sitting or about racing (auto, horse, dog etc)
4. Liberian Girl - Read a book set in any country in Africa or read an African American romance
5. Just Good Friends (Duet with Stevie Wonder) - read a book where the characters are friends
6. Another Part of Me - Read a book with a marriage or with a couple having or just had a babyHumbled by Patricia Haley
7. Man in the Mirror - read a memoir/biography/autobiography
8. I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Read a book a character is being stalked or is the stalker or being harassed
9. Dirty Diana - Read a book where one of the characters is a cheater or is being cheated on
10. Smooth Criminal - Read a detective novel or a book where crime is going on in the background
11. Leave Me Alone - Read a book with a character who is a loner or outcast

Dangerous
1. Jam - Read a book about music or about a musician
2. Why You Wanna Trip On Me - Read a book where a character is being set up or gossiped about
3. In The Closet - Read about secrets, has secret in the title, or about someone coming out of the closet
4. She Drives Me Wild - Read a steamy romance
5. Remember The Time - Read a memoir or read a book where the setting is in the past (historical romance and nonfiction history books for ex)
6. Can't Let Her Get Away - Read a book where one character was supposed to leave but ends up staying
7. Heal The World - Read a medical mystery (Temperance Brennan Series for ex)
8. Black Or White - Read a book from a Black author you have never read before and read a book from a White author you have never read before
9. Who Is It - Read a mystery
10. Give In To Me - Read a book where one of the characters like being in control
11. Will You Be There - Read a book where a character has to decide whether or not to trust or love someone
12. Keep The Faith - read a book about religion either real or fiction, read a book written by
13. Gone Too Soon - Read a memoir, Read a book from a series you wish had continued
14. Dangerous - Read a book where the villian also has a pov

Bonus Challenge:History
DISC ONE:
1. Billie Jean - Read a book where a pregnancy or baby has brought the couple together
2. The Way You Make Me Feel - Read a steamy romance or erotica
3. Black Or White - Read a book from a Black author you have never read before and read a book from a White author you have never read before
4. Rock with You - Read a romance or a book with rock in the title or author name
5. She's out of My Life - Read a book where the characters break up (they can get back together)
6. Bad - Read a book that got 2 stars or less
7. I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Read a book a character is being stalked or is the stalker or being harassed
8. Man in the Mirror - read a memoir/biography/autobiography
9. Thriller - Read a horror or psychological thriller
10. Beat It - Read a book centered around a fighting/martial art sport
11. The Girl Is Mine - Read a book where the male lead tries to get the girl
12. Remember The Time - Read a memoir or read a book where the setting is in the past (historical romance and nonfiction history books for ex)
13. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Read a book in one day/within 24 hours
14. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Read a book that centers around conflict (boxing, MMA, backstabbing friend)
15. Heal The World - Read a medical mystery (Temperance Brennan Series for ex)

DISC TWO
1. Scream (Duet with Janet Jackson) - Read a book written by 2 authors or read a horror book
2. They Don't Care About Us - Read a book where the main character is neglected or mistreated
3. Stranger In Moscow - Read a book set in Russia or by a Russian author, has stranger in the title, or by an author you've never read before
4. This Time Around - Read a rekindle romance or a book about reincarnation/character has been reincarnated
5. Earth Song - Read a book where the environment is part of the plot
6. D.S - Read a detective book, character or author name is Sheldon (can be either first or last name)
7. Money - Read a book with money in the title or a book where money is a plot device
8. Come Together - Read a romance, read a book about a group of characters (group of friends, military, knitting group etc)
9. You Are Not Alone - Read a series
10. Childhood - Read a children book (any page count), Read a book where a child is the main character (for this purpose a child is 17 and younger)
11. Tabloid Junkie - read a book written like a reality show (Laguna Nights series for ex) or where the main character is in show business
12. 2 Bad - Read a book with 2 or less stars
13. HIStory - Read a book written or set in the past
14. Little Susie - Read a book where the character is neglected or the character/author name is Susie/Susan/Susanne etc
15. Smile - Where one of the characters is pretending

Here's my progress with the challenge. Books in blue are books I may read. Books in red are books I have read.

You Get Enough - Read a book in one day/within 24 hours
2. Rock with You - Read a romance or a book with rock in the title or author name
3. Working Day and Night - Read a book where the main character(s) have multiple jobs or goes to school and has a job
4. Get on the Floor - Read a book with a musician in its list of characters
5. Off the Wall - Read a book with a shy character
6. Girlfriend (McCartney) - Read a female lead romance or a book about a BFF
7. She's out of My Life - Read a book where the characters break up (they can get back together)
8. I Can't Help It - Read a book about addiction or obsession
9. It's the Falling in Love - Read a romance that results in marriage
10. Burn This Disco Out - Read a book with a musician in it's list of characters

Thriller
1. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Read a book that centers around conflict (boxing, MMA, backstabbing friend)
2. Baby Be Mine - Read a book where a characters are engaged or getting married
3. The Girl Is Mine - Read a book where the male lead tries to get the girl
4. Thriller - Read a horror or psychological thriller
5. Beat It - Read a book centered around a fighting/martial art sport
6. Billie Jean - Read a book where a pregnancy or baby has brought the couple together
7. Human Nature - Freebie
8. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Read a y.a. book
9 The Lady In My Life - Read a romance novel

Bad
1. Bad - Read a book that got 2 stars or less
2. The Way You Make Me Feel - Read a steamy romance or erotica
3. Speed Demon - Read a book that you read in one sitting or about racing (auto, horse, dog etc)
4. Liberian Girl - Read a book set in any country in Africa or read an African American romance
5. Just Good Friends (Duet with Stevie Wonder) - read a book where the characters are friends
6. Another Part of Me - Read a book with a marriage or with a couple having or just had a baby
7. Man in the Mirror - read a memoir/biography/autobiography
8. I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Read a book a character is being stalked or is the stalker or being harassed
9. Dirty Diana - Read a book where one of the characters is a cheater or is being cheated on
10. Smooth Criminal - Read a detective novel or a book where crime is going on in the background
11. Leave Me Alone - Read a book with a character who is a loner or outcast

Dangerous
1. Jam - Read a book about music or about a musician
2. Why You Wanna Trip On Me - Read a book where a character is being set up or gossiped about
3. In The Closet - Read about secrets, has secret in the title, or about someone coming out of the closet
4. She Drives Me Wild - Read a steamy romance
5. Remember The Time - Read a memoir or read a book where the setting is in the past (historical romance and nonfiction history books for ex)
6. Can't Let Her Get Away - Read a book where one character was supposed to leave but ends up staying
7. Heal The World - Read a medical mystery (Temperance Brennan Series for ex)
8. Black Or White - Read a book from a Black author you have never read before and read a book from a White author you have never read beforeAnd I Darken by Kiersten White
9. Who Is It - Read a mystery
10. Give In To Me - Read a book where one of the characters like being in control
11. Will You Be There - Read a book where a character has to decide whether or not to trust or love someone
12. Keep The Faith - read a book about religion either real or fiction, read a book written by
13. Gone Too Soon - Read a memoir, Read a book from a series you wish had continued
14. Dangerous - Read a book where the villian also has a pov

Bonus Challenge:History
DISC ONE:
1. Billie Jean - Read a book where a pregnancy or baby has brought the couple together
2. The Way You Make Me Feel - Read a steamy romance or erotica
3. Black Or White - Read a book from a Black author you have never read before and read a book from a White author you have never read before
4. Rock with You - Read a romance or a book with rock in the title or author name
5. She's out of My Life - Read a book where the characters break up (they can get back together)
6. Bad - Read a book that got 2 stars or less
7. I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Read a book a character is being stalked or is the stalker or being harassed
8. Man in the Mirror - read a memoir/biography/autobiography
9. Thriller - Read a horror or psychological thriller
10. Beat It - Read a book centered around a fighting/martial art sport
11. The Girl Is Mine - Read a book where the male lead tries to get the girl
12. Remember The Time - Read a memoir or read a book where the setting is in the past (historical romance and nonfiction history books for ex)
13. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Read a book in one day/within 24 hours
14. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Read a book that centers around conflict (boxing, MMA, backstabbing friend)
15. Heal The World - Read a medical mystery (Temperance Brennan Series for ex)

DISC TWO
1. Scream (Duet with Janet Jackson) - Read a book written by 2 authors or read a horror book
2. They Don't Care About Us - Read a book where the main character is neglected or mistreated
3. Stranger In Moscow - Read a book set in Russia or by a Russian author, has stranger in the title, or by an author you've never read before
4. This Time Around - Read a rekindle romance or a book about reincarnation/character has been reincarnated
5. Earth Song - Read a book where the environment is part of the plot
6. D.S - Read a detective book, character or author name is Sheldon (can be either first or last name)
7. Money - Read a book with money in the title or a book where money is a plot device
8. Come Together - Read a romance, read a book about a group of characters (group of friends, military, knitting group etc)
9. You Are Not Alone - Read a series
10. Childhood - Read a children book (any page count), Read a book where a child is the main character (for this purpose a child is 17 and younger)
11. Tabloid Junkie - read a book written like a reality show (Laguna Nights series for ex) or where the main character is in show business
12. 2 Bad - Read a book with 2 or less stars
13. HIStory - Read a book written or set in the past
14. Little Susie - Read a book where the character is neglected or the character/author name is Susie/Susan/Susanne etc
15. Smile - Where one of the characters is pretending

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Friday, October 13, 2017

Santa Muerte by Lucina StonePages: 256Publisher: Story MerchantSource: YA Bound Book ToursFormat: ePubRating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
THE YEAR IS 2030. IN A DRAMATIC, final attempt to free her inner demons, twenty-year-old Daniela Delgado tempts fate and winds up on a strange farm in 1923. With an olive complexion due to her Mexican/Italian heritage and a fresh pixie cut, she is mistaken for a “boy of color.” Her only shot at survival now is to play it cool, pose as “Danny,” and figure out how to get back home to her two, loving moms.

And then she meets Daphne—an abused, motherless farm girl in desperate need of freedom and a friend. Having escaped Daphne’s father, the two of them are now roaming the streets of New York City disguised as a young aristocrat and her male servant. They’re running out of money, and ideas. And Daniela thought living in 2030 was tough.

But her solar powered smart phone works. And there’s someone within range. She pings them. A selfie of an attractive male comes in with the text: I’m Lain. Who the f--- are you? Even in that moment, Daniela knows this can’t be safe, but what are her choices? They meet Lain at a speakeasy on the Lower East Side. When Daniela reveals her last name, Lain says the only Delgado he knows is Anaya—the head of the Santa Muerte Coven of witches in Merida, Mexico. And then he hints that Daniela is a liar, even though she rocks a man’s three-piece suit like no woman he’s ever met. And as for her tattoos? Don’t get Lain started….

Despite the intrigue, Daniela adds Lain to the list of folks Daphne and she must outrun to stay alive. But as they plan their trip to Mexico, they soon discover that list is much longer than they thought. And they uncover a few other things, too, about Daniela’s true identity….

It was an interesting fast paced read for me. The racism aspect in the book wasn't that deep and really was used to make Daniela realize that the life she thought was so horrible wasn't all that bad compared to what it could have been. A little perspective can be great attitude adjustment.

I'm looking forward to the next book. I'm hoping that Sabine is not traitor. Please, please, please don't let her be a traitor and though I see there's about to be "the only one true mate" storyline about to happen, Lain didn't win me over. Anyway, good read to me.

About the Author
Stone, a Latina young adult book author from Morris County, New Jersey was the 2016 winner of two awards of the prestigious International Latino Book Awards for Best Sci/Fi novel and Best New Author. Santa Muerte- The Daniela Story (Story Merchant Books Press, 2016 release) tackles diversity in science fiction and fantasy by using folklore and culture.

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Saturday, August 26, 2017

Life of Pi is a fantasy adventure novel by Yann Martel published in 2001. The protagonist, Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, a Tamil boy from Pondicherry, explores issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. He survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a boat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father-a crusading local lawyer-risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now...

Like to join the fun? Here's how it works.

Each month you will make a post with three books from your TBR List (these books can be already on your kindle or shelf or books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Because Reading post. Click here to go to this month sign up

Your followers and the people on the linky will help you choose which book you will read next.

The following Saturday you will announce the book that won. Then read the book.

On the last Saturday of the month post a review (with an optional giveaway, Michelle at Because Reading does this sometimes just for fun but you don’t have to).

The Rules

Ex. Lets say its September…
The first Saturday is the 6th – your post will go up with the 3 books you choose (as stated above these books can be already on your kindle or shelf or books you might want to purchase) and then link it to the linky on Because Reading blog.
Her post will go up at 5am est. Make sure your link your post back to it in order to have your followers visit other people’s blogs to help vote if they want.

You can do the Polling however you would like. Survey Monkey, it has a good one and it’s free (here is an EXAMPLE of Michelle's post). You can set it up and say whatever you would like – it’s totally up to you. All this is asked is that you link back to Because Reading.

The second Saturday is the 13th – this is the day you announce which book won and whatever else you would like.
(here is an EXAMPLE of Michelle's post). Her post will have a linky, so we can all easily see what everyone will be reading.

The third Saturday is the 20th– you don’t have to post anything

The fourth (and/or last) Saturday is the 27th– this is when your review will go up regardless of how you liked the book.
Please note even if you didn’t finished it just write a small post about how you felt about the book. Michelle don’t write DNF reviews, but she does for this feature so followers can see what she thought about the book they picked.

Some months have 4 weeks and some have five so a post always has to go up the First and Second Saturday and the last Saturday of the month

The final review post will also have a linky on it so you can link up your reviews and we can see what you thought of the book that was picked. This will draw some views to your blog and maybe find some new friends along the way.

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Friday, August 25, 2017

The Deadly Sun by H.J. LawsonPages: 411Publisher: Self PublishedSource: YA Bound Book ToursFormat: ePubRating: ☆ ☆ ☆ Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia’s seen a lot in her sixteen years. She’s hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite—break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z’s boss. And he’s got bigger plans for Liv…

My ReviewThis was pretty darn good. Y'all know I like me a good dystopian story. In The Deadly Sun we enter a society built after our present day society have fudged up. The sun has always been deadly but now the ultraviolet rays are stronger so people either live underground or in domes. Well you have the Grounders...

This has similar themes that we have seen in other dystopians like Hunger Games, Divergent and such. I'm not bothered by that because quite frankly every genre has a trope, if they didn't then how would the be group together in genres. Anyway, I like the characters. And the storytelling. It grabbed me from beginning to end. I think that If you looking for a good dystopian novel this should be the next one on your list.

About the Author
I was born in Lancaster, England. Growing up in a single parent household with five other siblings was difficult but at the same time character building.

As a young child I found a passion for drawing and writing, which has stayed with me into adulthood. I graduated from the University of Central Lancashire, England with a BA(Hons) in fashion design.

At aged twenty seven, my husband and I packed up our belongings for our lifelong dream to move to California. Our America dream was completed with the birth of our daughter.

A new job opportunity opened up New York, and we decided to relocate to Long Island, NY, where we currently reside.

My books are a mixture of thriller, action, and dystopian. If you’re looking for a good place to start, take a look at War Kids series of thrillers, available now. You can grab copies in either ebook or paperback. To get an email whenever I release a new title, sign up for the VIP newsletter by click this link.

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Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

"wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure' Rowena Ravenclaw

Top Ten Books - Back To School

I wanted to add this one because of what it can teach us about a society that seeks to hold it citizens down, a society where the only thing anyone has time to think about is survival.

Though I haven't read this book, I have seen the movie. As a reader I know that the book is usually better. If that stays true then this book would be a great addition to the reading list. I think that one day it may actually make it.

A book that has seen its share of bans. I haven't read this book yet but it is at the top of my tbr list. It makes this list because I think that it is important to see what could happen if we allow to let our rights (in this case women's rights) slip or get voted away.

If you have visited this blog before then you knew that this was coming. For those who focus on the witchcraft in the book then I understand (I'm not going to get into your religious views) however if you removed the witchcraft from the equation you still get a great story. The base story is why the series is on the list. It's good versus evil. It's about a person so consumed with self-hate that the only way to be important is to rule over others. The various themes in the series go beyond wands and spells.

This is probably the one book that will never make any high school book list. A critique of what the history books have chosen to leave out, the possible reason of why things were left out, and the results of what has happen to American society because of the one-sidedness of these history books. It is eye opening and make sense if you read it without taking personal (ancestral) offense to what is being examined.

So there you have it. Which books would you choose?

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Monday, August 21, 2017

I like reading posts on other book bloggers sites that aren't always related to books. So I started thinking about what non book related thinks I would like to post. Movie Monday should be interesting since I like random things. You'll see mostly older movies but maybe you'll find something new to you to watch.

Dolores Claibornebased from the Stephen King novel with the same name
In a small New England town, Dolores Claiborne (Kathy Bates) works as a housekeeper for the rich but heartless Vera Donovan (Judy Parfitt). When Vera turns up dead, Dolores is accused of killing her elderly employer -- so her estranged daughter, Selena (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a well-respected New York City journalist, decides to visit her mother and investigate the matter for herself. As Selena digs deeper into the case, she uncovers shocking truths about the murder and her own childhood.

If you have read and watched Dolores Claiborne you need to put it on your list to watch. Dolores is a hard working wife of an abusive alcoholic husband. A husband who has been sexually inappropriate with his daughter. The daughter leaves but has to come back once her mother has been charged with the murder of her employer. As things unfold, we find out about the relationships between Dolores and her husband, Dolores and her daughter, as well as Dolores and her employer. Very interesting movie and one of my favorites.

Share a movie recommendation

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About Me

Born in the South, lived in the Northeast, and now living back in the South has created this diversity of culture and interests in me. I love creativity and it shows. I am friendly so leave comments, suggestions, and/or tips.

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